Application Process

Applications to Porter Traditional School are submitted online via the PWCS Specialty Programs webpage.

Families will be notified via the Avela system on March 1, 2027 of lottery status. 

Seat acceptances MUST be made by March 5, 2027, no exceptions. 

2026-27 Program Information Sessions

• Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Porter Traditional School.
• Tuesday, January 19, 2027, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Porter Traditional School

Requirements To Submit An Application

• Student resides in the designated attendance area of Prince William County (see zoned school list below)
• Student is a current resident of Prince William County.
• A current report card is required if your student currently attends a private school or a school outside of Prince William County.

Enrollment at Porter Traditional School is very limited;  yearly openings total less than 12 in grades 2-8.  

If the number of applications received exceeds enrollment capacity, a lottery is used to select students for current openings. The lottery is conducted in February.

Any student not pulled in the lottery is placed on the waiting list (by grade)

September 30th of the application year is the last day the waiting list is active; the waiting list becomes void after September 30. If a student is not pulled from the waiting list, then he/she will have to reapply the following year.

Important information for students applying for First grade

If a student does not meet the PWCS Age of Entrance for Kindergarten: age 5 by September 30 of that school year, and he/she is attending a private school for Kindergarten, in order to advance to 1st grade at a PWCS school, the private school MUST BE ACCREDITED by the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE) and/or the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). You may go to VCPE.ORG and/or NAEYC.org to check if a private school is accredited.

** Per Regulation 723-1: "For children who did not meet the kindergarten age requirement of five years of age by September 30, and whose parent/guardian is attempting to enroll the child in first grade, the following criteria must be met:

1. The student must have attended and successfully completed the kindergarten program of a school accredited by the Virginia Council of Private Education (VCPE), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), or the equivalent. Instruction in the home of a child or children by the parent/guardian or other person having control or charge of the child or children shall not be classified as an accredited kindergarten program. The parent/guardian must provide evidence (report card or transcript) of successful kindergarten program completion.
2. The parent/guardian must make the request to the principal during the designated kindergarten registration dates. The principal makes the final decision regarding grade placement; and
3. The parent/guardian must complete the Enrollment Agreement form (attachment) at the time of registration. This form officially informs the parent/guardian that enrollment in first grade is on a conditional basis. As indicated in the Enrollment Agreement, unsatisfactory progress in first grade may result in kindergarten placement. Changes in kindergarten grade placement, if warranted, will be made in the student’s first month of school.

Check Your Zoned School

Students residing in the eastern part of Prince William County are eligible to apply to Porter Traditional School. If your child's elementary zoned (neighborhood) school is listed below, you may apply:

NOTE: Please note that Penn Elementary  students will be required to apply to Pennington Traditional School. 

Applications to Porter Traditional School are submitted online via the PWCS Specialty Programs webpage, use link below: 

PWCS Specialty Program Application Page